Smith backs Storm pack on big stage

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They have been a big reason for the side’s success this year and now Storm’s forward pack will prepare to take on the finals challenge.

It is a challenge that does not get any greater than this week, when they face the pack that has led the NRL in metres gained for the last two years running.

North Queensland was the only team to gain more metres than Melbourne this season however the Storm pack will head into the clash full of confidence after getting the better of their Cronulla counterparts in Saturday night’s minor premiership decider.

Kenny Bromwich in particular was dynamic off the bench, finishing with 132 metres and 22 tackles from 36 minutes playing time.

“I’ve been extremely proud of the way our forward pack has handled this year, I think they are a big reason why we finished on top,” Storm skipper Cameron Smith said.

“Jesse Bromwich is the leader of our forward pack and he gets a lot of compliments through the media and he deserves that but there’s guys like Dale Finucane, Tim Glasby, Jordan McLean, Kenny Bromwich and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, those guys have been playing extremely good football for the entire season.

“They have taken it to big forward packs that have got a lot of experience, I am confident they will be able to do that again this week.”

Lead by James Tamou and Matt Scott, the Cowboys pack provides their side with great go-forward, allowing their talented playmakers to dictate terms.

“Obviously we are playing against a pretty formidable forward pack in Tamou, Scott and Jason Taumalolo with some pretty handy back rowers as well,” Smith said.

“Our guys will get the job done like they have every week. They are pretty no fuss at training, whatever the coaches ask them to do they go out and do it and play as hard as they can every week.

“In big games the forward pack battle is always important, they don’t always score points but they are the ones that get the team in the position to win the match.”